maestro top trump card???

[H48HPE]

i was searching the net for maestro stuff and stumbled upon this:

maestro card (http://www.ridejudge.com/Top10Battle.asp?cat=4&lstTopBottom=Bottom)

it appears to be a set of top trump style cards featuring different cars one of which is a fire damaged Y reg maestro which is only just managing to beat the vast majority of the volvo and lada ranges and has actually been bettered by a renault clio, couldmake an interesting game but the maestro card left me shocked and disturbed:laugh: :eek:

[tony]

have a close look at the engine size on the above post:(

[SimonR]

Two hamsters? - Like it :) They've obviously never driven a 1.3 Maestro, everyone knows there are at least 4 hamsters under the bonnet!

Seriously tho, I was amazed when my old 1.3L Maestro was tuned up properly just how fast it went, there was something of the british underdog about it. Sadly it was last seen with another car on top of it :mad:

R.I.P G417 LYA!

PS The car in that photo looks like it has different wing mirrors...?

[MGTurbo]

Look closer and you'll see its the same wing mirror but twisted slightly..

GK

[SimonR]

You know? - you're not wrong!

I originally thought that it looked like the mirrors from the prototype Maesty:
http://www.maestro.org.uk/maestro/xdu185x.jpg

But no - it was an original item but a little wonky.

[Ricky]

Waaaaaaaait a second, that picture looks very familiar, did that not used to be on this site somewhere, in a previous life?? I remember Jonathan had written a caption for this picture, which concluded it was a shame due to the fact that it looked in not bad condition for its age, was it in kent somewhere?
Besides, unless i'm very much mistaken, that isnt a three bar coachline down the side of the car, thats a door rubbing strip (for asda car park!), which on a Y vintage has got to mean that its a 1.6 (R series) has it not? So the engine cannot be two hamsters, its got to be only the one lethargic one!:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Ricky.

[MaestroMatt]

Originally posted by Ricky
... has got to mean that its a 1.6 (R series) has it not? So the engine cannot be two hamsters, its got to be only the one lethargic one!

Now wait just a minute! There's nothing lethargic about the R series - you obviously haven't had a good one! It is a far better engine than the S series in my humble opinion. But then, I am a touch biased.

[Ricky]

I know, I can't see how it can be so much better than the S series though, theyre to all intents and purposes the same thing IMHO, even to the point of the inlet and exhaust manifold gasket being the same part! I found my MG to be quite quick for the week I actually drove it, and I've had it a year now, but that was before the cracked head/block saga, and the frank spencer style refurb on the carbs..... One day I might be able to tell you what it is like to drive an R series Maestro in correct mechanical condition!!!

[SimonR]

Well, I think you'll not be disappointed, Ricky!

Having driven cars with both engines I fairly and squarely prefer the S-Series. Don't get me wrong - the R-Series is a nice engine and better at low revs than the S, but the S is much revvier (if that's a word) I also think it is faster to 80 mph than the R. It also sounds nicer. I'm not sure but I think that the R might be more economical than the S, although I've yet to prove this as I only got both cars working properly in the last week.

The S series with twin webbers and nothing but a length of steel tubing attached to the outlet manifold is a sound to behold as many of us know already!

Really, the only answer is to get one of each as I've done ;)

Btw, how's it going with your car Ricky?

[Ricky]

Thanks for asking! Progress is slow, at best, I sympathise with atv because thats where my Maestro is at the moment, stuck in a council style lock up with no power or light! I'm slowly tending to the bodywork, the drivers side A pillar has recently been filled and I've nearly finished covering over the hole where the aerial once was. Next I'm going to attack the C pillar (where it meets the body, coming down from the roof) and the door bottoms, and after that a bit of touch up for the underseal as some has come off already (only put it on in February!) Problem is, it seems to rust as fast as I'm fixing it!!
The engine swop seems to have been a success, and although I have the SU setup I think i'll hold out for a set of webers to come along, just wouldnt be right to have the MG badge and not the parts which make it different! Also need to trace down where my water leak is coming from, somewhere behind the dashboard on the drivers side..... Hopefully it'll all be done in time for its MOT in February! I might even have it ready to show during the summer next year! Now I am getting carried away! :laugh:

[Rich]

Check the speedo cable entry under the wiper grille for rust, water gets in my maestro from here, despite being welded twice, and about a tube of silicone being plastered on it!

Rich

[Ricky]

I can't remember exactly, but I'm almost 100% sure I dont have a speedo cable, being an MG1600? You may be on to something there though cos I must have a hole where one would live, possibly missing its plug? Can it be got to without taking the dash out? The water does come from the wiper grille area.....
Are there anymore cables round there I should be wary of?

Thanks

Ricky.

[Rich]

Ahh, forgot about the lack of the speedo cable!

However, there are several holes under there, all should have grommets in, to stop any water, its possible they may have perished, or in my case, the metal around them rotted out. To have a look, get under the bonnet, and remove the plastic cover which goes under the wipers, what you would remove to get access to the wiper motor, then all will become clear. There is a drain hole on each side which drains water down the inside of the front wings, check these arn't blocked with leaves or whatever. This is also where the front drain hoses from the sunroof, if you have one, drain out!

HTH, Rich